My guest blogger today is Paul Hartshorn, LibDem Parliamentary Candidate for my constituency - South Leicestershire - in the forthcoming General Election, on July 4.
He has lived in, or close by, the South Leicestershire constituency all his life. After attending local schools Paul started work at Premier Drum in Wigston before graduating from De Montfort University with a Business and Finance degree. In 2008 he set up his now thriving business in Blaby where he lives with his wife and two children.
In 2019 Paul was elected to Blaby District Council, quickly winning a reputation as a determined, hard-working and outspoken Councillor he was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2023.
He has lived in, or close by, the South Leicestershire constituency all his life. After attending local schools Paul started work at Premier Drum in Wigston before graduating from De Montfort University with a Business and Finance degree. In 2008 he set up his now thriving business in Blaby where he lives with his wife and two children.
In 2019 Paul was elected to Blaby District Council, quickly winning a reputation as a determined, hard-working and outspoken Councillor he was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2023.
by PAUL HARTSHORN
I am standing for parliament because I want to do politics differently.
For years I watched Conservative politicians, with no connection to our communities, parachute into South Leicestershire to secure a “safe” seat. At the same time I saw that Leicestershire County Council was the worst funded in England, Leicestershire Police the worst funded police force and our schools were facing financial challenges that threatened the quality of education our children receive.
As someone who was born in Wigston, and has lived in the Constituency for 30 years my priority will be to speak out on the issues that matter to constituents not chasing a political career. It will be about looking for solutions to the problems we face here and raising them in Parliament as well as promoting our communities as great places to live and work.
After being elected to Blaby District council in 2019 I started to speak out not just on local issues but on some of these bigger funding issues. Two years ago with a handful of colleagues we started planning the first ever serious challenge to Conservative domination in South Leicestershire. I started to visit communities outside Blaby listening to residents and taking up issues on their behalf.
As a result I have opposed the Conservative government’s plan for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Hub along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues. I spoke to residents in Sharnford about the issues they were having with school transport and in Lutterworth people were concerned about the future of the Fielding Palmer Hospital and the lack of a proper by-bass. These were just some of the issues from 100’s of people I have spoken to over the past two years.
As your MP I would ensure I kept in touch with people all year round. As a councillor I ensured residents received regular newsletters advising them of my activities and I have made full use of social media. As an MP I would do the same, reporting back on the work done in parliament and the issues raised on behalf of local people.
We have seen the results of our hard work paying off. In the council elections we secured 37% of the vote and eleven Lib Dem councillors were elected. On the same day, four Lib Dem councillors came close with Conservatives hanging on by 5,18,37 and 70 votes and hundreds of people voting Green or Labour dividing the anti -Conservative vote. As we go into the election we are able to run the strongest ever challenge to the Conservatives in South Leicestershire. As we go door to door people are telling us they are excited about our plans for more doctors and dentists and improving care to ease the strain on the NHS.
Above all people are telling us they want an MP to focus on the needs of the constituency. That will be my number one priority if elected on July 4th Looking after the area I have lived all my life in would be an honour, not just a step on the political ladder. I hope you can support me and deliver real change that constituents will be able to see and experience.
Published by Mark David Jones on behalf of Paul Hartshorn (Liberal Democrats) both at Unit 8, Westleigh Business Park, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4EZ.
For years I watched Conservative politicians, with no connection to our communities, parachute into South Leicestershire to secure a “safe” seat. At the same time I saw that Leicestershire County Council was the worst funded in England, Leicestershire Police the worst funded police force and our schools were facing financial challenges that threatened the quality of education our children receive.
As someone who was born in Wigston, and has lived in the Constituency for 30 years my priority will be to speak out on the issues that matter to constituents not chasing a political career. It will be about looking for solutions to the problems we face here and raising them in Parliament as well as promoting our communities as great places to live and work.
After being elected to Blaby District council in 2019 I started to speak out not just on local issues but on some of these bigger funding issues. Two years ago with a handful of colleagues we started planning the first ever serious challenge to Conservative domination in South Leicestershire. I started to visit communities outside Blaby listening to residents and taking up issues on their behalf.
As a result I have opposed the Conservative government’s plan for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Hub along with my Liberal Democrat colleagues. I spoke to residents in Sharnford about the issues they were having with school transport and in Lutterworth people were concerned about the future of the Fielding Palmer Hospital and the lack of a proper by-bass. These were just some of the issues from 100’s of people I have spoken to over the past two years.
As your MP I would ensure I kept in touch with people all year round. As a councillor I ensured residents received regular newsletters advising them of my activities and I have made full use of social media. As an MP I would do the same, reporting back on the work done in parliament and the issues raised on behalf of local people.
We have seen the results of our hard work paying off. In the council elections we secured 37% of the vote and eleven Lib Dem councillors were elected. On the same day, four Lib Dem councillors came close with Conservatives hanging on by 5,18,37 and 70 votes and hundreds of people voting Green or Labour dividing the anti -Conservative vote. As we go into the election we are able to run the strongest ever challenge to the Conservatives in South Leicestershire. As we go door to door people are telling us they are excited about our plans for more doctors and dentists and improving care to ease the strain on the NHS.
Above all people are telling us they want an MP to focus on the needs of the constituency. That will be my number one priority if elected on July 4th Looking after the area I have lived all my life in would be an honour, not just a step on the political ladder. I hope you can support me and deliver real change that constituents will be able to see and experience.
Published by Mark David Jones on behalf of Paul Hartshorn (Liberal Democrats) both at Unit 8, Westleigh Business Park, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4EZ.
Five candidates are standing for election in the South Leicestershire constituency:
* Alberto Costa, Conservative and Unionist Party
* Paul Hartshorn, Liberal Democrat
* Mike Jelfs, Green Party
* Robert Parkinson, Labour Party
* Bill Piper, Reform UK
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